Summer: flow of Argentinians to Brazil decreased in February

After closing 2025 with a record 9.3 million international tourists — an increase of 37.1% compared to the previous year —, Brazil received more than 2.6 million foreign visitors in the first two months of 2026, the second best result for the two-month period in its entire history, according to data from Embratur, the Ministry of Tourism and the Federal Police.

Argentina remained the leading global source of travelers to Brazil in January and February of this year, with 1.2 million visitors and a 28% increase in air arrivals. February saw a decline in land arrivals to Brazil, resulting in a 17.8% drop in Argentine visitors, with 544,692 compared to February of last year.

Rio de Janeiro and its Carnival were a magnet in February, drawing nearly 100,000 Argentinians to its attractions, a 14.3% increase over the previous year. Revenue generated by international tourists during Carnival 2026 reached almost US$186 million across Brazil, representing 30% of the usual monthly figure, all concentrated in just seven days. With Rio de Janeiro leading the way, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Bahia, and Pernambuco, in that order, were the Brazilian destinations most visited by Argentinian tourists in the first two months of 2026.

At the recent Routes Americas event, the continent's most important route negotiation forum held for the first time in Brazil, Embratur—Brazil's tourism promotion agency—highlighted that the country's international air connectivity (key to its inbound tourism) has grown by 35% in the last three years. This growth is supported by public-private partnership models such as the International Tourism Acceleration Program (PATI), which has created more than 160,000 new seats on international flights to Brazil, with a focus on South America, Asia, the United States, and Europe.

The Brazilian Ministry of Tourism anticipates that the international air network will continue to strengthen during 2026. As of September, at least 64 new flights and 16 additional frequencies have been confirmed and authorized by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).

In regional terms, air connectivity between Argentina and northeastern Brazil continues to grow in 2026. More than 1,700 direct flights between the two countries are planned throughout the year, representing a 41.9% increase compared to 2025, with more than 312,000 seats on direct flights between Argentina and the Northeast, a 42.8% increase over the previous year. Key routes include connections from Buenos Aires to destinations such as Salvador, Recife, Natal, Fortaleza, Maceió, João Pessoa, and Porto Seguro, as well as the route connecting Córdoba with Recife.

“The figures show that we are consolidating Brazil’s position in international tourism, maintaining the same high levels as last year, with the positive aspect of greater distribution among source countries, which reduces our exposure to regional crises. This increases our resilience and demonstrates our competitiveness in important markets in Europe, Asia, and South America. The significant increase in these markets demonstrates the effectiveness of our international promotion strategies, implemented in collaboration with the states and the private sector, which offer a diversification of experiences with a distinctly Brazilian character,” highlighted Embratur President Marcelo Freixo.

Source: Visit Brazil.